Burnham pursues EU reset ahead of November summit
- Prime Minister Andy Burnham is seeking closer ties with the EU ahead of a late November summit in Brussels.
- Downing Street has officially denied that discussions regarding a return to freedom of movement are taking place.
- Burnham has ruled out rejoining the EU during the current Parliament but remains open to future possibilities.
- Negotiators are focusing on practical agreements, including food standards and the Made in Europe scheme.
- The Prime Minister has linked the ongoing small-boats migrant crisis to the consequences of Brexit.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham is pursuing closer alignment with the European Union as officials prepare for a diplomatic summit in Brussels scheduled for late November. Bloomberg reported on Oct. 26 that Burnham is fueling talk of a "Brexit reset" in the lead-up to the meeting.
The Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade reported on Oct. 22 that the European Union is building "momentum" on a reset of relations with the United Kingdom. Burnham will meet with European Union leaders at the summit to attempt to secure several agreements for closer ties with the bloc.
Downing Street denies freedom of movement discussions
Downing Street has denied that British and European officials are discussing a return to freedom of movement. The prime minister’s official spokesperson said negotiations focus solely on next month’s summit and practical agreements that could add billions to the economy and cut red tape for British business.
The BBC and The News International both reported on Oct. 27 that officials from the United Kingdom and the European Union are scheduled to discuss the subject of freedom of movement.
Burnham outlines long-term vision for EU relations
Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated that he wishes Britain to re-enter the European Union during his lifetime, yet any restoration of freedom of movement would necessitate a public referendum. He added that rejoining the EU cannot happen during the current Parliament. Burnham pledged to follow Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer’s red lines for this Parliament, which rule out freedom of movement, single‑market membership and customs‑union participation, though he hinted a future manifesto could propose freedom of movement. On Oct. 25, Burnham told Reuters he is open to holding discussions about EU free movement.
Negotiators target specific economic agreements
Negotiators aim to secure a deal on food and beverage standards within a sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) framework. They also seek a carve‑out from the Made in Europe scheme to protect UK industries from unfair Chinese competition.
Burnham links Brexit to current migrant crisis
Burnham said a general election is not likely to be called any time soon, despite speculation about an early vote. He attributed the present migrant crisis to Brexit, claiming that exiting the EU eroded immigration controls and sparked the small‑boats issue because the UK can no longer repatriate individuals as it once could.
Independent campaign advocates for closer ties
Sources informed The Times that talks on EU alignment are already underway and that conversations will take place prior to any official announcement from the prime minister. The Independent has started a campaign to restore Britain’s ties with Brussels, contending that Brexit has harmed the economy and failed to provide the promised advantages on matters such as immigration.
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